[Milsurplus] Re: book "Flyboys" WW2 aviation So. Pacific

[Hue Miller]

If you're interested in WW2 aviation, Pacific War, you might
want to have a look at "Flyboys", a book by James Bradley.
I paid $20 for it, you might find it for less, but i think it's worth
every cent i paid.

The book involves mostly the US Navy flyers captured while
trying to destroy the big Japanese communications station
at Chichi Jima.  ( George H W Bush was also shot down here
but fortunately for him, he was rescued by submarine. There
is a photo in the book of him being hauled aboard.)  The book
investigates the fate of the captured pilots, who were missing
at war's end, and the investigation and war crimes trials that
followed. Some of the captured men were forced to work at
the Japanese monitoring receivers, listening to Allied radio
communications. There is also a photo of the Chichi Jima
receiver positions, showing a row of "Special receiver 92"
sets. There are other interesting details on the comm station.
( I saw elsewhere some photos from a tourist, of the collapsed
towers of the station, which still lie there, and they are pretty
impressive.)
The book is pretty fair about blame being handed out. It
talks about US planes gunning Japanese in parachutes
(standard for the Pacific War, both sides.) and of machine
gunning ship sinking survivors,  etc.  But you can under-
stand how these actions were inspired.  
With its even-handedness, interesting story, interesting
photos, attractive design, this is a winner.
Hue Miller